Candidacy

PhD students who have completed all requirements for the degree except the dissertation are eligible to enter candidacy.  The Graduate School expects that students file for candidacy in the same semester that they fulfill the requirements.

Candidacy is an important milestone in the progress towards the PhD degree.  It indicates that the student has achieved a substantial level of expertise in his or her field, and has articulated a plan for independent research and writing that has been approved by the faculty of his or her program.

Candidacy is also an important internal milestone.  Students who have not been admitted to candidacy by the end of their fourth year may be ineligible for further Graduate School funding.  In addition, students who are not in candidacy are ineligible for the Graduate School's fellowships for advanced students.

Students do not enter into candidacy until they submit an Application for Admission to Candidacy form, which must then be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

The application for candidacy affirms that a student has completed all Graduate School and program requirements except the dissertation.  It usually also includes a form that specifies the preliminary title of the student’s dissertation as well as the members of student’s dissertation committee.